Entropy
has been launched as a scientific journal to provide an advanced forum
for the community of entropy and information researchers.

There are many types of entropy reported in the scientific
literature [1]. The great diversity in the concept and definition may
cause
tremendous problems. My own humble suggestion is the following
regarding
the main two kinds of entropy: 1. Any information-theoretic entropy
(Shannon's
entropy [2],
H) should be defined in a way that its relation with
information is clear. 2. Any theories regarding thermodynamic entropy
(classical
entropy, S, or the entropy of Clausius, Gibbs and Boltzmann and
Plank) should conform with the second law of thermodynamics.

For information-theoretic entropy, if one uses entropy
and information interchangeably, which has often happened even among
some
physicists [3], for any well defined system and processes, we cannot
make
meaningful intellectual discussion [3].

A famous thermodynamic entropy theory is Dr. Ilya Prigogine's
dissipative structure theory. It has been presented by most of
my respected teachers as unbelievably important, beautiful and useful.
Therefore, 20 years ago as a young student of chemistry, I wanted to
understand
Prigogine's theory and I studied all kinds of related mathematics and
physics,
including several graduate courses in physics, to prepare myself. Now,
after more than 20 years, first 10 years of theoretical investigation,
then, several years of diverse experimental practice in chemistry
laboratories,
I have a clear opinion regarding this entropy theory. Its main problem
is that it does not conform with the second law of thermodynamics [4].
Therefore, it is not a surprise that an honest chemist (among any other
educated chemists, physicists, biologists, etc.) will tell you that he
has never found an application of this entropy theory in chemistry (or
in biology, physics, engineering, ...) [5].

However, the messy and confusing situation regarding
entropy-related studies has provided opportunities for us: clearly
there
are still many very interesting studies to pursue. For instance, one
immediate
task is to investigate whether the information-theoretic entropy and
the
thermodynamic entropy are compatible or not compatible, i.e., whether
both
need to satisfy a definition of "information is related to entropy
loss",
what relation the information-theoretic entropy has to the second law
of
thermodynamics and whether there is any correlation between
information-theoretic
entropy and thermodynamic entropy. To make the life of the students of
younger generations easier, entropy related concepts need to be
clarified
and well defined. The relation of entropy with many other concepts need
to be studied. These reasons alone would justify our launching of this
new journal Entropy.

Nevertheless, diversity is good in another sense:
the very diverse areas involved in the adaption and the application of
the entropy concept and of those various good theories of entropy will
definitely generate a very active scientific forum. Our journal Entropy
will strongly support this forum, publishing high quality papers from
areas
as diverse as physics, chemistry, biology, economy and philosophy.

4. (a) Based on his observation of the so-called
"order out of chaos" examples, Pregogine himself also questioned the
validity
of the second law of thermodynamics; see Prigogine's comments in the
paragraph
regarding the second law of thermodynamics in his Nobel lecture [4b].
(b) Prigogine, I. Time, structure, and fluctuations.
Science1978, 201, 777-785.
(c) For an early critique, see: Lin, S. -K. Time
symmetry and thermodynamics. Comp. Math. Applic. Int'l. J.1991,
22 (12), 67-76.

5. However, all contributions on Prigogine's dissipative
structure theory are still welcomed based on our editorial policy.